Faculty and Research

Faculty

Irene Biemann PT, R.Ac, CAFCI

Irene graduated from Queen’s University in 1984 and co-founded the Acupuncture Clinic in Lyndhurst in 1992. She has used acupuncture extensively in her practice at the Rapson Pain Clinic since 1995 and has recently been licensed as an Acupuncturist with the CTCMPAO. Irene has been an instructor and examiner with Acupuncture Canada for almost 20 years.

Lianne Chan BScPT, MClScPT, FCAMPT, CAFCI

Lianne has been a practicing physiotherapist since 1993 and works in private practice in North York, Ontario. She received her CAFCI in 1995 and holds an Advanced Diploma and a Masters of Clinical Science degree in Manual and Manipulative therapy. She is an instructor with Acupuncture Canada as well as the University of Toronto Physiotherapy Department, and the Orthopaedic Division of the Canadian Physiotherapy Association.

Nutan Desai BSc.(PT), MCPA, R.Ac, CAFCI

Nutan graduated from the University of Bombay, India in 1973 and has practiced in Canada since 1975. She worked at the University Hospital, London, Ontario as a staff therapist, co-ordinator and Clinical Specialist in Neurotherapy. Nutan presently runs private practices in Woodstock and London, Ontario where she treats musculoskeletal, neurological and vestibular conditions.

Linda Dyer-Macdonald BSc(PT), R.Ac., CAFCI

Linda has been a physiotherapist for the past 29 years. She has worked in both hospital and private clinic settings and is presently the owner of Sport-Medic Physiotherapy Clinic. Her training includes orthopaedic, manual therapy and acupuncture. She has been a member of the Acupuncture Canada faculty since 1997 and currently sits on its Education and Appeals Committees.

Carmen Eadie MD, CCFP, CAFCI

Carmen graduated from medicine in 1981 and has practiced full time since then. She has incorporated acupuncture and other needling techniques into treatment of musculoskeletal pain for more than 20 years. Carmen has been an instructor and examiner for Acupuncture Canada for 15 years. She is studying to qualify as a TCM examiner in British Columbia.

Catherine Fuller PT, R.Ac, CAFCI

A Physiotherapist for 28 years, Catherine is the owner of Stayner Physiotherapy & Massage Therapy LTD and Ramblewood Physiotherapy. Certified in acupuncture in 1992 with Acupuncture Canada, she has been teaching since 2001. Catherine is a registered acupuncturist in Ontario. She was the president of Acupuncture Canada from 2010 to 2012, and will remain a member of the board until 2015.

Cynthia Gokavi MBBS, CAFCI, CGTTP

Cynthia graduated from Medicine in India in 1971 and has over 30 years experience in Medical Acupuncture. She is the Medical Director of the Gokavi Acupuncture and Pain Clinic in Saskatoon Saskatchewan, and President of GTT Seminars. Cynthia pioneered and authored the Gokavi Transverse Technique which she teaches internationally. She has served as President of Acupuncture Canada. Cynthia is an instructor and examiner.

Ed Gray BSc.(Hons), DC, CAFCI

Ed uses acupuncture as an adjunctive modality to his chiropractic practice where the two therapies compliment each other. His research in rehabilitation, which has been published in a peer-reviewed journal, specifically details the benefits to patients when a practitioner takes a multidisciplinary approach to patient care.

Tanya Lee-McCracken BScPT, CAFCI, C.Med.Acup.

A graduate of Queen’s University in 1982 Tanya has worked in acute and rehab hospitals, community care, and private practice in three provinces. She integrates acupuncture with manual therapy, cranio-sacral therapy, visceral manipulation and Chikly’s brain curriculum. A previous board member and B.C. hapter president with Acupuncture Canada, she is now an instructor and examiner. Tanya’s special interests include the treatment of orthopaedic conditions.

Neil Luders BScPT., CAFCI

A physiotherapist who graduated from Sydney University, Australia in 1993, Neil moved to Owen Sound in 1994 where he splits his time between the local hospital, Grey Bruce Health Services, and his own clinic, Soma Physiotherapy. Neil was accredited with Acupuncture Canada in 2006. He uses acupuncture to address a wide range of conditions at both of his workplaces.

Catharine Maxwell-Palmer BScPT, FCAMT, CAFCI

Catharine is a physiotherapist practicing in Calgary, Alberta and a Fellow of the Canadian Association of Manipulative Therapists (FCAMT). She has included acupuncture in her private practice for more than 20 years. Catherine has additional certification from the University of Alberta (Medical Acupuncture). Her special interests are neck and back injuries and post-partum moms.

Nimet Meghji DC, R.Ac, CAFCI

Nimet graduated from the Canadian Memorial Chiropractic College in 2002 and is a clinic director of the Optimum Health Centre in Toronto. In addition to Acupuncture Canada, Nimet trained with The School of Eastern Medicine in Toronto and is a registered Acupuncturist with CTCMPAO. She is past president of Acupuncture Canada’s former Ontario chapter and is currently a member of the Board of Directors and an instructor with Acupuncture Canada.

Mac Mierzejewski MScPT, FCAMPT, CAFCI, CGIMS

Mac is an Edmonton based physiotherapist who has been in practice since 1982. His Master’s Degree is from the University of Alberta. He is a Fellow of the Canadian Academy of Manipulative Physiotherapy and is certified in Gunn Intramuscular Stimulation. Mac has been practicing acupuncture for over twenty-five years and teaching acupuncture since 2000. He is an instructor, examiner and President of Acupuncture Canada.

Christene Misener BScPT, FCAMPT, CAFCI

Christene graduated from the Dalhousie School of Physiotherapy in 1989 and practices at a private physiotherapy clinic in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia. She has been an active member of Acupuncture Canada since 1994, serving on both provincial and national boards, and has been an instructor since 2001.

Gerald Nemanishen MD, CCFP, CAFCI

Gerald graduated from the University of Saskatchewan in Medicine and did a family medicine residency at McMaster University. He settled in Mission, BC in 1981 where he has a full service general practice and is the medical director of several long-term care facilities. He received his certification from Acupuncture Canada in 1992 and has served as the President of the Board of Directors.

Linda Rapson MD, CAFCI

Linda is a former family physician with 40 years’ experience incorporating acupuncture in a medical practice focused on chronic pain, with a particular interest in neuropathic pain. She has been an Acupuncture Canada instructor and examiner for many years, as well as its president and Executive President. She has been an acupuncture consultant at Lyndhurst Spinal Cord Rehab Hospital since 1992; Adjunct Scientist at UHN/Toronto Rehabilitation Institute; and Assistant Professor, DFCM, University of Toronto.

Fedra Salias PT, CAFCI

Fedra graduated from the University of Buenos Aires, Argentina in 1990 and has worked as a physiotherapist in both private practice and with hospital inpatients. She currently works with neurological conditions in a hospital outpatient setting. Fedra has been using acupuncture since 2003 and is excited to be a new faculty member with Acupuncture Canada.

Doreen Sharpe PT, CAFCI

Doreen has over 30 years experience as a Physiotherapist working with hospital inpatients and outpatients, as well as in private practice and home care. A registered acupuncturist, she is owner of Sharpe Physiotherapy and Massage Therapy Clinic, in Trent River, Ontario, specializing in pain management, incontinence, vestibular and aqua therapy rehab. A faculty member since 2001, she also serves on the board of Acupuncture Canada. She is adjunct Academic Staff of Queen’s University .

Sheila Williams BMRPT, CAFCI

Sheila graduated from the University of Manitoba in 1990 and since that time has worked in both hospital and private practice settings. She received her acupuncture certification with Acupuncture Canada in 1993 and has been actively involved in the organization ever since. She is currently Acupuncture Canada’s Director of Education Administration, as well as an instructor and examiner. Sheila is the owner of Markham Physiotherapy in Winnipeg.

Cindy Zechel BMRPT, CAFCI

Cindy graduated from the physiotherapy program at the University of Manitoba in 1997. She has been licensed in Saskatchewan, Yukon, Manitoba and Alberta as a physiotherapist. During her career she has worked in community therapy, hospital inpatient and outpatient departments, and private clinic settings. She established Wildwood Physiotherapy in 2005. She received her acupuncture certification from Acupuncture Canada (then AFCI) in 2000. Since then she has enjoyed combining Eastern and Western medicine approaches to help her patients return to active lifestyles.